Rack level adjustment apparatus in an appliance cabinet

ABSTRACT

The support means for a rack, such as a dish-supporting rack in a front opening dishwasher cabinet, includes means for manually adjusting the level of the rack in accordance with the size of items to be placed on the rack or a rack vertically adjacent thereto. Each side of the rack is preferably adjusted between upper and lower positions, and adjustment of the side from an upper position to a lower one is a particularly rapid operation accomplished by manually releasing a locking means whereby the rack side will move downwardly to its lowermost position.

Unite Sttes Guth atent 1 1 RACK LEVEL ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS IN ANAPPLIANCE CABINET [75] Inventor: Lauren W. Guth, Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company, Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No: 148,840

[52] US. Cl. ..312/351, 312/311, 312/312 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 96/00 [58]Field of Search ..312/351, 311, 312; 211/162, 181, 94.5; 287/54.l, 103A, 3;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Geiger ..3 12/351Bollhoefer Sandin ..312/351 X [451 Apr. 10, 1973 3,352,431 11/1967 Smith..3l1/176 3,560,069 2/1971 Doepke ..312/351 3,614,187 10/1971 Cuthbert..312/351 Primary ExaminerJa.mes T. McCall Att0meyGeorge C. Atwell,Francis H. Boos, Jr., Frank L. Neuhauser, Scar B. Waddell and Joseph B.Forman [5 7] ABSTRACT The support means for a rack, such as adish-supporting rack in a front opening dishwasher cabinet, includesmeans for manually adjusting the level of the rack in accordance withthe size of items to be placed on the rack or a rack vertically adjacentthereto. Each side of the rack is preferably adjusted between upper andlower positions, and adjustment of the side from an upper position to alower one is a particularly rapid operation accomplished by manuallyreleasing a locking means whereby the rack side will move downwardly toits lowermost position.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU APR] 0 I973 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.LAUREN w. GUTH HS M W ATTORNEY PATENTED 3,726,580

SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR. LAUREN W. GUTH HlS ATTORNEY RACK LEVELADJUSTMENT APPARATUS IN AN APPLIANCE CABINET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to a shelf or rack supporting structurein an appliance cabinet and particularly pertains to apparatus foradjusting or shifting a rack in an appliance cabinet from onepredetermined level or position to another to thereby provide moreeffective use of available space within the cabinet. The invention isbelieved particularly applicable for use in an automatic dishwasher ofthe front-loading type.

In a patent issued Feb. 2, 1971, to Donald G. H. Doepke, U.S. Pat. No.3,560,069, rack adjustment means is provided in combination with thesupport means for an upper rack in a front-opening dishwasher thatenables the housewife or operator of the dishwasher to physically adjusta side of the dishwasher rack between a low position and a higher levelin order to accommodate dishware or other items of unusual size to bewashed in the dishwasher.

In a patent application filed concurrently herewith, by Donald G. H.Doepke, Ser. No. 148,846, apparatus is disclosed for the same generalpurpose, but utilizing structure that is comparatively somewhat moredifficult to operate.

The present invention comprehends a significant improvement on structureof the type disclosed by Doepke inasmuch as the improved apparatus isbelieved comparatively more efficient in its intended function and muchmore convenient for the housewife to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, in an appliancecabinet having oppositely-disposed side walls defining a chambertherebetween and a load-bearing rack mounted in the chamber, adjustmentmeans for manually changing the level of the side of the rack betweenpredetermined vertically-spaced positions. The adjustable meanspreferably includes a pair of spaced-apart slidable mechanisms locatedalong a side edge of the rack. Each slidable mechanism has a first andsecond member arranged to slide, one upon the other. One of the membersprotrudes downwardly from the rack side and the other member has meansfor mounting it to the chamber side wall. The first member is adapted toslide vertically relative to the second member permitting the rack sideto move from one of the vertically-spaced positions to another. Theslidable mechanisms are adapted to be locked by holding means therewithto prevent downward movement of the first member relative to the secondmember when the rack is in a high level position. Means for manuallyreleasing the holding means enables the housewife or operator to quicklyenable the rack side to drop to a lower level position as desired.Features of the present invention include the holding means which locksthe sliding mechanisms at the side of the rack whereby the rack cannotbe inadvertently moved downwardly except by releasing the holding meanspurposely, and the provision of actuation means conveniently locatedadjacent the front corner of the rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of thepresent invention will be apparent from the ensuing description whenread in reference to the accompanying drawing wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a front-opening automaticdishwasher having a side wall thereof cut away to show certain internalcomponents thereof including a vertically-adjustable rack in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along lines 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing components of theapparatus as they are disposed in accordance with vertical adjustment ofa dishwasher rack;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing a portion of a dishwasher chamberside wall with components of the present invention mounted thereto andin accordance with the dishwasher rack thereof being adjusted to anupper position or elevation;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of certain related components of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing part of the rack structure asshown in FIG. 4, with components of the invention disposed as they wouldappear at an intermediate point during the function of the invention;and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and differing therefrom by showingdisposition of components of the present invention as they appear afterthe rack has been adjusted from the position shown in FIG. 4 to a lowerpredetermined level.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there is shown afront-opening dishwasher 10 including a rectilinear cabinet 1 1 and anaccess door 12 hinged at its lower end to pivot on a horizontal axis andopen outwardly from the cabinet 11. Within the cabinet 1 l is a chamber13 which is defined by the door 12, oppositely-disposed side walls 15 atop wall 16, and a chamber floor or bottom wall 17. Since the dishwasher10 is typical of such machines, no attempt will be made herein todescribe its general operation or components thereof which are notconsidered pertinent to the present invention.

Mounted within the wash chamber 13 is a pair of dish-supporting racks 20and 21. Each of the racks is provided with means permitting it to beslidably withdrawn outwardly through the chamber access opening wherebythe rack may be loaded or unloaded and thereafter retracted back to theposition shown. In combination with the rack 21 is an adjustable means,preferably provided at each side of the rack, to permit manualadjustment of the side between verticallyspaced predetermined positions.The adjustable means includes a pair of spaced-apart slidable mechanisms25 each having members projecting from the rack 21 arranged to bevertically slidable on respective wallmounted members.

The vertically-slidable member may be in the form of a bracket 26 joinedrigidly at its upper end to the undersurface at the side of the rack 21.The wall-mounted member is preferably in the form of avertically-elongated rectangular plate 27 The plate 27 is carried on astud 28 protruding laterally therefrom toward the chamber side wall thatalso serves as an axle for a roller 29. The roller 29, as shown in FIGS.2 and 3, is adapted to be slidably movable horizontally in a pathparallel to the dishwasher side wall by means of a slide bar 30 carriedbetween upper and lower sets of rollers 31. The rollers 31 are rotatablymounted to the side wall of the wash chamber 13 and each roller has anannular intermediate groove for engaging on the slide bar 30. As shownin FIG. 1, the slide bar 30 is mounted to be slidably movablehorizontally between two sets of the rollers 31, and the roller 29 isdisposed for its horizontal movement in a longitudinally elongated slot32 provided in slide bar 30. The slide bar 30, with the rollers 29 and31 in contact therewith, serve as means for slidably mounting themechanism to the side wall 15 of the chamber 13.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bracket 26 is generallyU-shaped in horizontal cross-section whereby it has opposed portions orsides 34 oriented perpendicular to its major portion. The plate 27 has awidth permitting it to be contained between the sides 34 whereby it fitstherebetween just loosely enough to permit the sliding action of thebracket 26 on the plate 27. The sides 34 of the bracket 26 are slottedto permit extension therethrough of a horizontally-disposed elongatedbar 35. The bar 35 is disposed to be slidable in the direction of itsextension within the slots provided in the bracket sides 34. The bar 35has means therewith for urging it to slide inone direction, preferablytoward the rear of the chamber 13. The urging means may be in the formof an expansion spring 36 adapted to fit onto the bar 35 at one endthereof. The bar 35 may be properly slotted as shown in FIG. 7 toreceive the spring 36 about an intermediate portion thereof whereby thespring 36 will press between the bar and an adjacent side 34 of thebracket 26. It is also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 that the preferred meansfor holding or locking the members of the sliding mechanism 25 in a highlevel position and preventing inadvertent movement preferably includes aplate projection 37 engagable by a tooth 38 on the bar 35.

The bar 35, in the portion thereof which resides between the sides 34 ofthe bracket 26, is provided with an irregular slot 39 into which thetooth 38 protrudes. A portion of the slot 39, a recess 40, underlies thetooth 38. Thereabove, the tooth 38 has an edge 41 slanting obliquelytoward the top edge of the bar 35. This edge 41 serves as a ramp forguiding the tooth 38 around the plate projection 37 as will be hereafterdescribed. The bracket 26 has a centrally disposed vertical slot 43opening outwardly on its lower edge. The slot 43 extends inwardly andupwardly on the bracket 26 to provide clearance, during the bracketsvertical movement, for the stud 28 supporting the plate 27. As shown inFIG. 5, the stud 28 extends transversely to the bracket 26 through itsslot 43.

The operation of the adjustable means at the side of the rack 27 canprobably be best understood by particular reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and7. In FIG. 7, the rack 21 is shown disposed at a lower level or positionwherein the brackets 26 of the mechanisms 25 are disposed downwardlyrelative to the plates 27. The rack side may be moved upwardly to theposition shown in FIG. 4 by grasping the rack and lifting it. The actionwill cause each bracket 26 to slide upwardly relative to the plate 27.The slide bar 35 carried on the bracket 26 will move upwardly therewithand the ramp 41 of the tooth 38 will move upwardly into contact with theplate projection 37, as shown in FIG. 6. The ramp 41 will slide againstthe side edge of the projection 37 and therebycause the bar 35 to slidetransversely to the bracket 26 until the projection 37 is seated at thebottom of the slot 39. At this point, the tooth 38 will have goneentirely around the side edge of the projection 37 whereby, at theurging of the spring 36, the bar 35 will reverse its direction ofmovement so that the tooth 38 slides over and seats upon the projection37. The spring 36 will tend to hold the recess 40 in a disposition aboutthe projection 37 whereby the rack side will be held or locked in theraised position.

When it is desired to lower the rack side, a handle portion 42 locatedadjacent the front corner of the rack 21 provides means for releasingthe sliding mechanism 25 whereby the rack side will drop downwardly to alower position. The handle portion 42 is integral to the bar 35 suchthat grasping it and pulling it outwardly relative to the dishwasherschamber 13 serves to move the tooth 38 laterally relative to theprojection 37 whereby the tooth 38 is disengaged therefrom so that thebracket 26 is again slidable relative to the plate 27 The weight of therack side will then serve to push the bracket 26 downwardly relative tothe plate 27 to the lower position shown in FIG. 7. The portion of thebar 35 constituting the handle portion 42 may be of greater width thanthe remainder of the bar 35 whereby a shoulder 44 is formed to engageagainst the area of the bracket side 34 and thereby prevent longitudinalretractive movement of the bar 35 beyond a predetermined distance whenthe rack side is in its lowermost position.

The invention heretofore described by reference to a preferredembodiment thereof is not meant to be limited to particular details ofconstruction of the embodiment illustrated and described. It iscontemplated that various modifications or applications will occur tothose skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appendedclaims shall cover all such modifications and applications as do notdepart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an appliance cabinet having oppositelydisposed side walls defininga chamber therebetween, and a load-bearing rack mounted in the chamber,adjustable means at the side of the rack permitting manual adjustment ofthe side between verticallyspaced positions, comprising:

a. a pair of mechanisms located in a spaced-apart relation along therack side, and adapted to permit the rack side to be moved directlyupwardly and downwardly,

. each mechanism including a first member extending from the rack and asecond member having means mounting it to the chamber side wall, thefirst member being adapted to slide directly upwardly and downwardlyrelative to the second member whereby the rack side moves from one ofthe vertically-spaced positions to another,

. holding means operatively-associated with the mechanism,

d. the holding means being adapted to prevent movement of the firstmember relative to the second member when the first member is in one ofthe positions above the lowermost of the verticallyspaced positions,

e. means for releasing the holding means including linkage extendingbetween the pair of mechanisms, and

f. means adjacent the front corner of the rack for manually operatingthe releasing means whereby the first member will move downwardly to alower one of the positions.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the second member is a plate, theplate is disposed in a spacedapart relation generally parallel to thechamber side wall, the first member is a bracket adapted to slideupwardly and downwardly on the plate, the linkage is a rod extendingbetween the spaced-apart mechanisms, and the bracket of each mechanismhas means thereon supporting the rod for slidable movement in thedirection of the rod s extension.

7 means includes a projecting portion of the plate engagable by a toothintegral to the rod.

7. The invention of claim 6 further including means urging the tooth toengage the projection on the plate.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means mounting the second memberto the chamber wall includes means permitting slidable movement of thesecond member ina generally horizontal plane.

1. In an appliance cabinet having oppositely-disposed side walls defining a chamber therebetween, and a load-bearing rack mounted in the chamber, adjustable means at the side of the rack permitting manual adjustment of the side between verticallyspaced positions, comprising: a. a pair of mechanisms located in a spaced-apart relation along the rack side, and adapted to permit the rack side to be moved directly upwardly and downwardly, b. each mechanism including a first member extending from the rack and a second member having means mounting it to the chamber side wall, the first member being adapted to slide directly upwardly and downwardly relative to the second member whereby the rack side moves from one of the vertically-spaced positions to another, c. holding means operatively-associated with the mechanism, d. the holding means being adapted to prevent movement of the first member relative to the second member when the first member is in one of the positions above the lowermost of the vertically-spaced positions, e. means for releasing the holding means including linkage extending between the pair of mechanisms, and f. means adjacent the front corner of the rack for manually operating the releasing means whereby the first member will move downwardly to a lower one of the positions.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the second member is a plate, the plate is disposed in a spaced-apart relation generally parallel to the chamber side wall, the first member is a bracket adapted to slide upwardly and downwardly on the plate, the linkage is a rod extending between the spaced-apart mechanisms, and the bracket of each mechanism has means thereon supporting the rod for slidable movement in the direction of the rod''s extension.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the holding means comprises a portion of the rod adapted to be releasably engagable with the plate of each mechanism.
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means for manually operating the releasing means comprises an end of the rod disposed adjacent the front corner of the rack.
 5. The invention of claim 2 further comprising means manually urging the rod toward the back wall of the chamber.
 6. The invention of claim 2 wherein the holding means includes a projecting portion of the plate engagable by a tooth integral to the rod.
 7. The invention of claim 6 further including means urging the tooth to engage the projection on the plate.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means mounting the second member to the chamber wall includes means permitting slidable movement of the second member in a generally horizontal plane. 